HMS Swift – G 46 – D-Day – Battle of Normandy

HMS Swift – G46

Index of Allied warships during Operation Neptune

History, technical sheet and photo

HMS Swift history

This S-class destroyer was launched on June 15, 1943 and entered active service on December 6 of the same year. The HMS Swift (chronologically the 28th Royal Navy building to bear the name) is part of the 23rd fleet of destroyers operating in the English Channel and North Sea waters. It carried out several patrols and escort convoys to the Soviet Union.

In May 1944, as part of the preparation for Operation Overlord, it joined the Bombarding Force, which was subordinated to Task Force S. HMS Swift (under Lt. Cdr John Ronald Gower) was heading to Sword Beach on D-Day, rescuing the sailors of HNoMS Svenner, sunk by the Germans, and participating in the fire support missions of the Allied troops on D-Day by bombarding the sector of Franceville.

As of June 7, it patrolled in the Bay of Seine while continuing its mission of fire support. On 24 June, off Sword Beach, it hit an underwater mine which broke it in two and caused it to sink at eight in the morning. Sixteen crew members were killed and thirty-seven were wounded.